A total of 10 picturesque areas are in the running to be designated as Scotland's next National Park.
As reported by the Scottish Daily Express, 10 regions have already submitted an expression of interest to the Scottish Government. The successful applicant will become the country's third National Park, following the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. A spokesperson from the Galloway National Park Association, one of the areas in the running, said they had registered interest "within minutes" of applications opening. Another region known to be interested in obtaining National Park status is the Scottish Borders.
"The trouble is, they are run by volunteers and over time — when the founders leave or die or whatever — a lot of good stuff goes to waste because there is no proper way of keeping track of it.